Mariners
Notebook: Wilson, Olerud might attract trade interest

By Bob Finnigan
Times staff reporter

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With the trade deadline approaching, teams are talking and one rumor has Minnesota coming after Mariners catcher Dan Wilson. Rookie Twins catcher Joe Mauer is on the disabled list again with soreness in the left knee he tore up early in the season.

In addition, with shortstop Rich Aurilia gone to San Diego, word is that first baseman John Olerud might also be traded to a National League team, with Atlanta and San Diego showing the most interest.

Wilson, a former University of Minnesota player, is still a favorite in the Twin Cities, and the Twins are not satisfied with substitute catchers Matthew LeCroy and Henry Blanco.

But to pry away Wilson, who still figures solidly in the Mariners' plans despite the addition of 26-year-old catcher Miguel Olivo, the Twins will have to give considerably more than their rumored offer of Mike Restovich, a little-used outfielder with good career minor-league numbers.

The Braves may have the most interest in Olerud. They are said to be seeking a good defensive first baseman to play late in games for rookie Adam LaRoche. Ancient Julio Franco, 45, is Atlanta's backup first baseman.

Seattle has 10 days to move Olerud after designating the first baseman for assignment last Thursday. But Olerud can invoke his no-trade clause during that period to prevent a swap he does not like. He rejected a deal to San Francisco in June.

The deal that sent Aurilia to San Diego could save the Mariners between $170,000 and $200,000 of the $1.52 million remaining on the shortstop's contract. The swap might bring a player to be named later or might not, depending on what the Mariners choose.

Hansen comes to Mariners' defense

While Hiram Bocachica's fabulously timed leap to rob Cleveland's Casey Blake of a ninth-inning home run Sunday ranks as Seattle's most notable defensive play of the year, Dave Hansen made what may have been the club's most unnoticed big play Monday.
 
In the midst of the heroics, which included significant outfield plays from Jolbert Cabrera and Ichiro, Hansen prevented Boston from getting a solid chance to break a 4-4 tie in the top of the 11th.

The play started with a throwing error by infielder Justin Leone, who moved from third base to shortstop the inning before, on a routine grounder by Boston's Kevin Millar.

Hansen, who had gone in defensively in the 10th, somehow got off the bag to reach around Millar as he bore down on him. Hansen somehow snagged a throw that infielder coach Dave Myers said "looked headed for the first row of seats."

"I have no idea how it went in the glove, or how I held it," Hansen said.

When told the play was balletic, Hansen laughed, "Coming from me, that makes it even more surprising."

Leone a little wild

The flip side, literally, of Hansen's amazing play was Leone's throw.

Leone has made five errors in 11 games, and while several were understandable, his miscue on Millar's grounder Monday rated a discussion with Myers.

Before he spoke with Leone, Myers went over tape of the play numerous times.

Myers noticed that Leone dropped his arm "so that his hand is actually under the ball as he lets it go, which gives you a pretty slim chance of throwing a strike as the ball sails up and away."

Notes

• Seattle might go to 12 pitchers soon, with Tacoma closer Scott Atchison being one candidate to go into the big-league bullpen if he can be added to the 40-man roster.

• Outfielder Raul Ibanez was held out of the starting lineup for a second day because of the flu, although he had an RBI pinch-hit single.

• Ron Villone will make another start, in part because of his superb six-inning start Monday, in part because left-hander Bobby Madritsch is not going longer than five innings at Tacoma, and because Gil Meche has not been effective since being sent to Tacoma.

• The Mariners' six stolen bases broke the club record for a nine-inning game and tied the overall mark, set in extra innings.

• Seattle's back-to-back homers by Olivo and Edgar Martinez in the ninth inning Monday were their first of the year. Boston has done it five times, including yesterday's back-to-backers by David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

• Martinez is .455 (5 for 11) as a pinch-hitter this year after hitting only .186 (8 for 43) previously.

Times staff reporter Larry Stone contributed to this report.